Panama has introduced a short-stay visa for participants in the Working Holiday program. Executive Decree 21, signed on October 13, 2026, and published on October 14 in Official Gazette 30634-B, establishes a Non-Resident subcategory. Article 9 states that it takes effect upon promulgation.

For immigration lawyers, the first check concerns more than the applicant’s age: a bilateral agreement for this program must be in force between Panama and the applicant’s country of nationality. The decree does not list eligible countries. Publication therefore does not justify offering the visa to every foreign national or assuming that a particular program is open without checking the applicable agreement.

Articles 2 and 3 establish a non-renewable stay of up to twelve months and an age range of 18 to 30 at the time of application. Beneficiaries must leave Panama when the program ends and cannot change immigration category. These conditions define a temporary stay, not a route to permanent settlement.

Applications are submitted to the National Immigration Service’s Special Projects Office. Article 4 requires a personal application, a passport certified by a Panamanian notary, three photographs, an apostilled birth certificate and criminal-record certificate, medical insurance for the entire stay and sufficient financial means. It also requires Foreign Ministry certification confirming the applicant’s participation in the program.

The decisive distinction appears in Articles 5 and 6: the visa envisages temporary employment but requires the corresponding permit from the Ministry of Labor and Workforce Development. It does not authorize permanent employment or access to permanent residence during the stay. Immigration approval and permission to work must be treated as separate checks when advising clients or employers.

Immigration authorities and the Foreign Ministry will administer the program. Article 8 provides for visa cancellation and a consequent deportation order for non-compliance. The decree does not specify a minimum financial threshold, a list of national quotas or an administrative response deadline.

The professional opportunity is to structure applications consistently with the bilateral agreement, coordinate documentation and work authorization, and explain stay restrictions from the outset. Before promising eligibility or employment-start dates, advisers should confirm operational conditions with the relevant authorities. The new category expands the framework for youth mobility, but does not replace that individual verification.